Five titles on line in Taranaki Masters

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Up to five Taranaki senior golf titles will be up for grabs at the Taranaki Masters championships this year.

As well as the overall titles for Taranaki's best male and female players aged 40 and over, there will also be titles for the 50 plus, 60 plus and 70 plus categories.

The Spicers-sponsored 36-hole event will be played over two days, with the first round at the Fitzroy Golf Club on Saturday, September 1, and the final round at New Plymouth on Sunday, September 2.

The tournament is limited to the first 96 entries and is also a trial for both the Taranaki men's and women's representative masters teams.

New Plymouth professional Craig Owen has made a flying start in Queensland, with two second-placed finishes in his first two events on the Australasian Seniors PGA Tour.

Owen (73-72, 145) claimed a share of second in the A$25,000 Fraser Coast Classic, played at the Hervey Bay Golf Club last weekend.

The 36-hole event was won by Mike Zilko (70-74, 144), of New South Wales, with Owen sharing second with four others. Stuart Reece (77-73, 150) was the next best Kiwi in 20th position, while fellow New Zealanders Peter Hayes (78-73, 151) and Martin Webber (76-75, 151) finished a further shot behind in a tie for 23rd.

Owen shot a one-over par round of 69 to claim outright second in the $20,000 Tewantin Noosa Legends Championship on Tuesday.

The 18-hole event was won by Larry Canning, of New South Wales, who shot an even-par round of 68.

Rain reduced the Cambridge Classic to 36 holes last weekend, with the second day's play on Sunday washed out.

New Plymouth amateur Brad Hayward (69-73, 142) shot a two-under-par total to finish ninth, while clubmate Zach Lewis (78-79, 157) finished well off the pace in a tie for 60th.

The tournament was won by Justin Morris (66-69, 135), of Putaruru, with Cameron Jones (69-68, 137), of North Shore, second.

The Hawera Golf Club completed the men's strokeplay championships recently.

In the senior division, Taranaki representative Tim White (75-70, 145) shot a one-over-par total for the 36-hole event to coast to a comfortable eight-shot win over Gary Marriner and Drew Rennie, who tied for second on 153.

The intermediate title went to Terry Bigham (78-84, 162) with Peter Sullivan second on 167, while the junior division was taken out by Ryan Cambie (86-84, 170) with Sandy Nowell four shots back on 174. The limit title was won by Dennis Barkla (91-90, 181) with Bernie King finishing runner-up.

Standing on the fourth tee at eight-over-par, the three handicapper then reeled off seven birdies, including a homeward nine of 31, five-under-par, to return a gross score of one-over-par 73 and a net 70.